Demonstration
at Austin Planned Parenthood Gala last Sunday (September 14th)
 |
From John Pisciotta
Pro-Life Waco
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A Waco, Austin, San Antonio pro-life collaboration
at Austin PP annual fundraiser was very successful. Close to 30 pro-lifers
participated--about an equal number from each city.
Here’s my summary of how the day unfolded. After
Pro-Life Waco’s Second Sunday event, which featured Joe Pojman of Texas
Alliance for Life, our contingent got on the road with “Carolyn”, the pro-life
billboard truck, leading the way. Pastor Joe Geleney of St. Mary’s Waco joined
the excursion with his Corvette and pro-life license plates.
The Waco gang was the first to arrive at the
entrance to the Hyatt Regency Hotel, where abortion supporters were holding
their big fundraising banquet. One of our Austin vehicles had a flat tire so we
had to double back to provide assistance. Susan Parker and Lynn Williams worked
so hard to achieve Austin participation.
By the time we arrived back at the Hyatt, the San
Antonio group led by Daryl Rodriquez of Love the Truth Ministries had already
set up. Daryl had his signs displayed and was being interviewed for a KVUE
television news story. This news coverage multiplied the impact of our
demonstration. The hotel is on the very busy Barton Springs Road. So many in
Austin saw our demonstration. We were able to position the pro-life billboard
truck across the street from the entrance to the Hyatt.
Our faithful occupied sidewalks for at least 50 feet
on each side of the entrance. We had a variety of signs proclaiming to
Austinites messages about the tragedy and depravity of abortion at the hands of
Planned Parenthood. We were able to continue our demonstration for two hours
between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. We had just a handful of conversations with the
other side. Mostly we were sending out visual messages. We were the recipients
of a few negative hand signs.
At about 6:30, we wrapped up the demonstration and
just about everyone went over to a local BBQ restaurant on Barton Springs Road.
Pro-Life Waco ordered a delicious meal to serve family style. Fr. Joe led us in
prayer before we enjoyed an extended time of good food and fellowship. For one
young lady, this was her first pro-life demonstration. She proclaimed, “I had a
blast today.”
One reason it is important to have demonstrations is
to provide an entry point into the movement for new faithful. We should have a
variety of avenues for people to enter the pro-life movement. A demonstration
was my “kick in the pants” to get involved. Back in 1994, shortly after
abortions began in Waco, Flip Benham and Rusty Thomas came to Waco to stir
things up with three days of demonstrations. After wavering a bit, I decided to
go see what it was all about. It didn’t take long for me to become committed to
Hometown Pro-Life Action.
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